Careers in CRIME

About 70 law enforcement agencies surrounded the area near the Social Sciences/Public Affairs Building Tuesday in an effort to recruit Cal State Long Beach's finest.  

A van from radio station Star 98.7 FM blasted out tunes from the '80s as about one thousand   CSULB students talked to police officers, S.W.A.T. team members and FBI agents as part of the 25th Annual Criminal Justice Career Day Exposition, said senior Victor Contreras, Criminal Justice Student Association vice president. The student association sponsored the event  
 
"There are so many local, state, and federal agencies," said senior criminal justice minor Fionna Davis. "There are some really nice departments here with some nice paying packages."  

Another student, Lily Hui, was just passing through when she saw the S.W.A.T. team's setup.  

"I was always curious how heavy the S.W.A.T. team vest was," said the physical therapy graduate student. "It was heavy even without the ammunition."  

The vest weighs about 20-30 pounds without ammunition and 40-50 pounds with ammunition. Hui also got the chance to sit on a police motorcycle, which weighs about 500 pounds. "You feel powerful sitting up there," she said.  

Brian Stack, the reserve officer from the Anaheim Police Department who let Hui sit on the motorcycle, said a lot of law enforcement agents get a bum rap.  

"When most people think of officers they think of tickets," Stack said. He added that the officers only want people to be safe while they are driving.  

Cpl. Don Mitchell from the Ontario Police Department brought along Natz, a five-year-old German Shepherd from a K-9 unit originally from the Czech Republic area. According to Mitchell, the Czech Republic is where dogs are bred to work for law enforcement agencies.  

The dogs start their training at six weeks old.  The department which? tests their dogs every month. Based on their performance, it is determined whether or not the dog will continue working for the department. Natz is cross-trained and works in narcotics among other areas.  

The event was put together by the Criminal Justice Student Association.  

Harvey Morley, a criminal justice professor and advisor for the student association, said the students did a spectacular job in organizing the exposition.  

"This is the largest and most diverse group that has ever been here," he said.